Portsmouth suicide: A mother's anguish

Friday

Oct 25, 2013 at 2:00 AM

PORTSMOUTH — The body of Frank Ciance, a 38-year-old local man who suffered from depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, was found Thursday near some train tracks. His dog, Dakota, was also found and reportedly never left his side.

Charles McMahon

PORTSMOUTH — The body of Frank Ciance, a 38-year-old local man who suffered from depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, was found Thursday near some train tracks. His dog, Dakota, was also found and reportedly never left his side.

The discovery marked the end of what was an agonizing few days for Ciance's family, most notably his foster mother, Sherry Mitsui. The last time Mitsui said she saw her son was at her home in Atlantic Heights nearly a week earlier. While the two had just had an argument, Mitsui said she remembers her son made sure to say goodbye.

"Before he left the house Friday night, which was the last time I saw him, he gave me a hug and told me he loved me," she said.

In the days that followed, Mitsui said she heard from a neighbor that he or she had seen Ciance walking down the road with his dog. Mitsui said she also received some messages on Facebook from her son.

The last thing Mitsui said she saw from her son was a cryptic message on Facebook indicating he may want to harm himself.

Throughout the early part of the week, Mitsui said she canvassed the city looking for any clue as to where her son may have gone. She went to Market Basket on Woodbury Avenue, a place where Ciance was known to frequent to purchase beer and cigarettes.

She also reached out to Ciance's teenage children, neither of whom said they had seen their father.

She even walked the train tracks, hoping her son would turn up alive.

But, as the days passed, Mitsui said she became increasingly concerned that something bad had happened to her son and his dog.

Knowing his problems with alcohol abuse, Mitsui said she felt something was wrong.

Mitsui's worst fears came true Thursday.

Police Lt. Mike Maloney said Ciance's body was found along the train tracks behind Osprey Landing. His dog was still by his side.

A medical examiner was later called in to confirm the body was in fact that of Ciance, Maloney said. No foul play is suspected, he said. Ciance is believed to have died by suicide.

With only a few hours to come to terms with his death, Mitsui said she is convinced her son died because of a combination of alcoholism and sadness.

"The consequences of alcohol drives people to this type of devastation," Mitsui said. "When he was sober, he was a wonderful person."

Having taken in Ciance when he was only 7 years old, Mitsui said her son had been abused as a child and had endured trouble all his life.

Ciance attempted to get help, but Mitsui said he would end up falling through the cracks after being passed from counselor to counselor.

"He got sick and tired of it all," she said. "He gave up."

The lack of support Mitsui said Ciance received from the mental health system turned her son into a "loner." His isolationism led him to frequent places such as the railroad tracks, the same place he would die.

The discovery of Ciance's body came on a day when various mental health care professionals were in the city for the annual Erik Cogswell Memorial Conference hosted by Seacoast Mental Health Center. The 14th annual event, held at the Portsmouth Harbor Events & Conference Center, focused heavily on mental illness and the legal system, and how to find collaborative approaches to treatment and advocacy.

One of the speakers at Thursday's forum was Ken Norton, executive director of the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill-New Hampshire. Norton participated in the development of New Hampshire's State Suicide Prevention Plan and was instrumental in passage of legislation that established a state Suicide Prevention Council. He said the message to take away from any tragedy involving suicide is prevention.

"It's important for people to know what resources are available and to try and make them available to their loved ones in a timely way," Norton said, adding that knowing the warning signs is essential to suicide prevention.

While the death of her son cannot be considered anything but a tragedy, Mitsui said she is thankful she at least can find closure. Mitsui said she now no longer has to wonder where her son may have gone.

"At least we know what happened," she said. "A lot of people don't have that."

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